SINGAPORE, Nov. 11 (Xinhuanet) -- A Singapore-based biotechnology company, Rockeby Biomed, has launched two bird flu rapid test kits, Channel NewsAsia said on Friday.

    One kit is used for veterinary testing of birds' faces, blood and serum samples, which is the first of its kind in the world, while the other is for the screening of swabs taken from human nose or throat.

    Relying on immunological detection of the bird flu viral protein, both tests will yield a result within 10 minutes, said a press release from the company.

    Designed for use by professionals, the test kit for birds costs about 6 US dollars each and the one for humans about 10 to 12 US dollars.

    It is expected that the fast test kits could help prevent a bird flu outbreak by isolating infected cases as early as possible.

    The world is worrying about a bird flu pandemic as wild birds and poultry infected with avian flu virus have been found in Asia, Europe and the Middle East, and the number of human infection cases is increasing. Enditem